Scratch-off card gaming board device

ABSTRACT

A scratch-off card holder device has a handle jutting out a top edge of a board of the holder device such that the handle makes the device easy to port from one location to another. A first and second scratch-off card holder devices whether spring loaded or mechanical are disposed on the front and back of the device respectively. Coin holders are found on either side of the scratch-off card holder devices attached to or integral with the slab forming the board. A scratchings motion device container is situated above the card holder for placement of a brush therein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to gaming board devices. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to improvements directed toboards for scratch-off cards that are used in current state and nationalgames.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1A presents a prior art clipboard system 100 having a typicalspring activated clip. A clipboard 100 is shown in the figure having atypical plastic rectangular board 101 having a back, a front, top,bottom and two side edges all integrated as a single slab of plasticmaterial. A spring mounted clip 102 is located at the top center of theclipboard 100 so as to effect engagement with paper, pictures or similarmaterials.

FIG. 1B presents a prior art clipboard having a typical spring activatedclip. The spring loaded clip 102 is made from typical metallic materialssuch as aluminum or stainless steel, cheaper metals or alloys; there isa metallic back plate 102 a that supports the clip 102 and permits entryof the pin attachments 107 thereon so as not to break the material ofthe board. The clip 102 is a rectangular device having four arms, a topengagement arm 104, a bottom arm 103, a right arm 105 and a left arm106. Each of the arms are arranged as shown to form a single rectangularpiece and are positioned as one would expect; that is, at the right sideof the bottom arm 103 it flows into the right arm 105 that proceedsupwards until it meets the top arm 104; the left side of the bottom arm103 proceeds into the left arm 106 that is disposed upwards until itintegrates into the upper arm 104.

Various plastic bumpers 108, and 110 are disposed at either side of thebottom junctions on the right or left of the bottom arm 103 as it mergesinto the left 106 and right arms 105. Next, a spring loaded actuator 109having contact with the top rectangular arm causes the entire clipdevice to close down upon the board 101. It should be understood thatthe top arm 104 is also realized as two parts instead of an arm incontact with the interior of either side of spring loaded actuator 109.Finally, two pin attachments 107 hold the clip device 102 to theclipboard 101; they perforate the underlying metal rectangular plate 102a that sits atop the outer surface of the slab 101 and thereby preventsit from being damaged in use.

FIG. 1C presents a prior art clipboard having another type of clip. Thisis representative of the teachings of US patent application No. US20110127180 A1 to David Vogias (herein incorporated by reference); thispatent application teaches a lottery scratch ticket holding devicehaving a board with a front surface, a rear surface, a top portion and abottom portion. A clip is located along the top portion of the board andused for attaching, holding and storing scratch off cards on the holdingdevice. A receptacle is located across the bottom portion of the board.The receptacle is used to collect any scrapings created as a userscratches the opaque covering off a scratch ticket. As lotteriescontinue to proliferate users will have more reason to use assistantdevices such as that taught by Vogias.

Lottery systems are globally ubiquitous and promise players untoldrewards for participating in the game. Various scratch-off electronicgaming and other types of games permit the user to engage his appetitefor gains earned with a small amount of risk. Typical lottery games havea thick paper or cardboard sheet having one or more scratch off portionsthat hide winning behind the scratch off material. A user wouldtypically grasp a coin or similar item and manipulate it against thesurface of the scratch off portion so as to reveal the winnings orlosings underneath.

One of the problems of the prior art is that there is no solution thathelps a user to control the device that he or she uses to scratch offthe card. This deficiency needs to be overcome.

Further, a user must use his or her hand to clean the scratching debrisabout the surface of a scratch off card. A solution that permits a userto keep his hands clean is necessary to overcome this problem.

Next, another problem with the prior art system is that once a user hasutilized one scratch off card, he or she does not have a way to loadanother one without having the unwanted first scratch off cardinfluencing the new scratching of a new card.

Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for a scratch-off cardboard having a mechanism or device that helps a user to control thescratch off card and scratch off device and or that permits a user tomaintain hand cleanliness and or permits a user to mount a new scratchoff card whilst having not having the influence of the first card.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the known art andthe problems that remain unsolved by providing an apparatus for helpinga user control a scratch-off card board and or that maintains user handsfree from scratching debris.

A scratch off board device comprising:

-   -   a scratch-off card holder device attached to    -   a slab of material having    -   a first scratch-off card holder device attached to a front side        of the slab of material    -   a second scratch-off card holder device attached to a back side        of the slab of material.

A scratch off board device comprising:

-   -   a scratch-off card holder device attached to    -   a slab of material having    -   a handle extending out a top edge of the slab of material.

A scratch off board device comprising:

-   -   a scratch-off card holder device attached to    -   a slab of material having    -   a first scratch off manipulation device holder attached to the        slab of material.

In another aspect, a second scratch off manipulation device holderattached to the slab of material.

In another aspect, wherein the first scratch off manipulation deviceholder attached to the slab of material is attached to the slab ofmaterial between the edge of the slab and a side of the scratch-off cardholder device.

In another aspect, wherein the first scratch off manipulation deviceholder attached to the slab of material is attached to the slab ofmaterial between the edge of the slab and a first side of thescratch-off card holder device and wherein the second scratch offmanipulation device holder attached to the slab of material is attachedto the slab of material between the edge of the slab and a side oppositethe first side of the scratch-off card holder device.

In another aspect, a scratchings motion device container above thescratch off card holder device.

In another aspect, a scratchings collector at a bottom edge of the slabof material.

These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawingsand the detailed description of the preferred embodiments which follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be describedin conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and notto limit the invention, in which:

FIG. 1A presents a prior art clipboard having a typical spring activatedclip.

FIG. 1B presents a prior art clipboard having a typical spring activatedclip.

FIG. 1C presents a prior art clipboard having another type of clipattachment.

FIG. 2A presents an isometric front oriented view of a novel scratch-offcard clipboard having a scratching device holder and debris collector.

FIG. 2B presents an isometric rear oriented view of a novel scratch-offcard clipboard having a scratching device holder and debris collector.

FIG. 2C represents an isometric front view of a lottery board in anotherembodiment of the teachings herein.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several viewsof the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and isnot intended to limit the described embodiments or the application anduses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary”or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, orillustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or“illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other implementations. All of the implementationsdescribed below are exemplary implementations provided to enable personsskilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure andare not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is definedby the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”,“lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, andderivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in eachfigure. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressedor implied theory presented in the preceding technical field,background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It isalso to be understood that the specific devices and processesillustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the followingspecification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventiveconcepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions andother physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosedherein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expresslystate otherwise.

FIG. 2A presents an isometric front oriented view of a novel scratch-offcard clipboard having a scratching device holder and debris collector.An improved scratch-off card board device 200 is shown in the figure. Aslab of plastic material 201 forms the backbone of the scratch-off cardboard device 200. This slab has a top surface, a bottom surface, a leftedge, a bottom edge, a top edge and a bottom edge all integrated as oneslab of plastic material. A handle 202 at the top is formed from a Ushaped piece of plastic integrated with the top edge of the slab 201;the legs of the U face downwards and form the two contact points withthe slab 201. At the top front middle portion of the slab 201, directlybelow the handle 201 is a spring loaded clip assembly 213. This assembly213 has a metal plate backing and the spring actuated device discussedin FIG. 1B.

On either side of this spring assembly 213 are two coin holders 203.These coin holders extend outwards from the front surface of the plasticslab 201 and are in a semicircular shape for holding a typical coin; inthis instance a quarter although other sizes will do. The size and shapeof the coin holder 203 permits a user to easily grasp the coin sittinginside the holder 203; essentially, they are concavities of plastic thatsit atop the slab 201 in a semicircular shape that taper at the edge orcircumference down back towards the slab 201. Finally, at the bottom ofthe slab is a thin rectangular scratchings collector 207.

This scratchings collector 207 has a right side 205, a left side 206, afront side 204 and a bottom side 209. The right side 205 merges with thebottom front right edge of the slab 201, with the right edge of thebottom side 209 and the right edge of the front side 204. The left side206 merges with the bottom front left edge of the slab 201, with theleft edge of the bottom side 209 and the left edge of the front side204. The front side 204 bottom edge also integrates with the bottom side209 along a front edge thereof. Finally, the back edge of the bottomside 209 integrates with the bottom front edge of the plastic slab 201.It should be apparent from the above description that the scratchingscollector 207 is integral along the sides described previously.

FIG. 2B presents an isometric rear oriented view of a novel scratch-offcard clipboard having a scratching device holder and debris collector.This back side shows how the back side of the slab 201 has a secondspring activated clip device 213 that utilizes the same pin attachmentsof the front spring loaded clip device 212; this is accomplished byinserting the pin attachments atop the metal back plate. Thus, a user isable to hold another scratch off card on the back of the device as onthe front of the device moving cards backwards and forwards as needed.

FIG. 2C represents an isometric front view of a lottery board in anotherembodiment of the teachings herein. An improved scratch-off card boarddevice 200 is shown in the figure. A slab of plastic material 201 formsthe backbone of the scratch-off card board device 200. This slab has atop surface, a bottom surface, a left edge, a bottom edge, a top edgeand a bottom edge all integrated as one slab of plastic material. Ahandle 202 at the top is formed from a U shaped piece of plasticintegrated with the top edge of the slab 201; the legs of the U facedownwards and form the two contact points with the slab 201. At the topfront middle portion of the slab 201, directly below the handle 201 is abrush holder 211 and directly below that is a spring loaded clipassembly 213. This assembly 213 has a metal plate backing and the springactuated device discussed in FIG. 1B.

The brush holder 211 forms an open trapezoidal box shape for a brushhaving a left side 210 a, a front side 210 b, a right side 210 c as wellas a bottom side 208. One edge of the left side 210 a integrates withthe surface of the slab 201 whilst its other edge integrates with anedge of the front side surface 210 b. Next, the opposite edge of thefront side 210 b integrates with an edge of the right side 210 c whoseother edge integrates with the slab 201. The bottom side 208 integratesalong an edge with the slab 201 and at three other edges with the bottomedges of the left side 210 a, front side 210 b and right side 210 c.

On either side of this brush holder 211 are two coin holders 203. Thesecoin holders extend outwards from the front surface of the plastic slab201 and are in a semicircular shape for holding a typical coin; in thisinstance a quarter although other sizes will do. The size and shape ofthe coin holder 203 permits a user to easily grasp the coin sittinginside the holder 203; essentially, they are concavities of plastic thatsit atop the slab 201 in a semicircular shape that taper at the edge orcircumference down back towards the slab 201. Finally, at the bottom ofthe slab is a thin rectangular scratchings collector 207.

This scratchings collector 207 has a right side 205, a left side 206, afront side 204 and a bottom side 209. The right side 205 merges with thebottom front right edge of the slab 201, with the right edge of thebottom side 209 and the right edge of the front side 204. The left side206 merges with the bottom front left edge of the slab 201, with theleft edge of the bottom side 209 and the left edge of the front side204. The front side 204 bottom edge also integrates with the bottom side209 along a front edge thereof. Finally, the back edge of the bottomside 209 integrates with the bottom front edge of the plastic slab 201.It should be apparent from the above description that the scratchingscollector 207 is integral along the sides described previously.

Thus has been shown an improved scratch board device having a dualmounted spring device mounted on the front and back of the device forholding cards on either side.

Further, an improved scratch off board device has been shown having coinholders that help a user to store the scratching devices, i.e., thecoins.

Finally, an improved scratch off board device has been shown that has ahandle for easy portability of the device.

Finally, it should be understood that various changes to the embodimentsherein yield alternative embodiments by rearranging parts, deleting themor similar combinations thereof. For example, an embodiment having allthe features taught herein but without the coin holders is analternative embodiment. Another embodiment is one that does not have thesecond clip attachment on the back of the board. Another embodiment isone that does not have the brush holder at center top; anotherembodiment is one that does not have the brush holder at center top northe scratching collector at bottom. Another embodiment only has the coinholders and the clip attachment on the front; another embodiment onlyhas the coin holders and the clip attachment on the front and back;another embodiment only has the coin holders and the clip attachment onthe front and back and a brush holder at top.

Thus, it should be apparent that various modifications of theaforementioned features in the embodiments disclosed herein such asdeletions of, combinations of, or rearrangement of parts are realizablewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention that isdefined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A scratch off board device comprising: ascratch-off card holder device attached to a slab of material having afirst scratch-off card holder device attached to a front side of theslab of material a second scratch-off card holder device attached to aback side of the slab of material.
 2. A scratch off board devicecomprising: a scratch-off card holder device attached to a slab ofmaterial having a handle extending out a top edge of the slab ofmaterial.
 3. A scratch off board device comprising: a scratch off cardholder device attached to a slab of material having a first scratch offmanipulation device holder attached to the slab of material.
 4. Thescratch off board device of claim 3, further comprising: a secondscratch off manipulation device holder attached to the slab of material.5. The scratch off board device of claim 3, wherein the first scratchoff manipulation device holder attached to the slab of material isattached to the slab of material between the edge of the slab and a sideof the scratch-off card holder device.
 6. The scratch off board deviceof claim 4, wherein the first scratch off manipulation device holderattached to the slab of material is attached to the slab of materialbetween the edge of the slab and a first side of the scratch-off cardholder device and wherein the second scratch off manipulation deviceholder attached to the slab of material is attached to the slab ofmaterial between the edge of the slab and a side opposite the first sideof the scratch-off card holder device.
 7. The scratch off board deviceof claim 3, further comprising: a scratchings motion device containerabove the scratch off card holder device.
 8. The scratch off boarddevice of claim 3, further comprising: a scratchings collector at abottom edge of the slab of material.